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Cooking, Holiday Travel Safety Tips From The Red Cross

Don't leave cooking food on the stove unattended this Thanksgiving holiday; put the focus on safety.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner,
and the American Red Cross offers tips to help you stay safe this holiday —
which is a peak time for cooking fires and congested travel.

COOKING SAFETY

Thanksgiving is the top day for home
cooking fires in the U.S., where unattended cooking is the most common cause of
kitchen fires. Follow the tips below and visit redcross.org/homefires for free
resources.

1. Keep an eye on what you fry. Stay in
the kitchen and never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the
kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

2. Clean and clear the area around the
stove before turning on the heat.

3. Move items that can burn away from
the stove. These include towels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains.

4. Avoid wearing loose clothing or
dangling sleeves while cooking.

5. Keep children and pets at least three
feet away from the stove.

6. Turn pot handles to the back of the
stove, so no one bumps them or pulls them over.

7. Fires can start when the heat is too
high. When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease
starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner.

8. Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet
nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the
fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

9. Use a timer to remind yourself that
the stove or oven is on.

10. Check the kitchen before going to
bed or leaving home to ensure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned
off.

Bonus tip: Download the American Red
Cross First Aid App and activate the Red Cross First Aid Skill for
Alexa-enabled devices ahead of time and review how to treat burns and what to
do if someone is choking.

TRAVEL SAFETY

Millions of people will take to the
highways to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends — making it one of the
busiest times for road traffic. If you’re planning to travel by car, prepare
now for a safe visit.

1. Make sure your car is in good condition
for a road trip.

2. Pack an emergency preparedness kit,
supplies and a first aid kit in your vehicle.

3. Share travel plans with a family
member or friend.

4. Check the weather before departing
and along your route. Plan for travel around any storms that may be coming.

5. Be well rested and alert.

6. Buckle up, slow down and don’t drive
impaired.

7. Follow the rules of the road and use
caution in work zones.

8. Give your full attention to the road.
Avoid distractions such as cell phones.

9. Make frequent stops. During long
trips, rotate drivers. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get some rest.

10. If you have car trouble, pull off
the road as far as possible.

Bonus Tip: Download the Red Cross
Emergency App for safety tips and customizable weather alerts for where you and
your loved ones live and areas where you are traveling.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds
and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40
percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides
international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their
families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on
volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us
on Twitter at @RedCross.